Published: Saturday, February 23, 2013 at 7:27 p.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, February 23, 2013 at 7:27 p.m.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — A violent 13-car crash on the last lap of Saturday's Nationwide Series race sent a tire and other debris flying over the grandstand fence at Daytona International Speedway, injuring at least 28 fans, some critically.

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Speedway President Joie Chitwood III said 14 people were taken to area hospitals and 14 were treated at the Speedway's infield care center. Two people, an adult and a minor, were critically injured but listed in stable condition Saturday night.

All drivers involved in the crash were evaluated and released from the care center, as well, said Steve O'Donnell, NASCAR's senior vice president for racing operations.

Halifax Health Medical Center spokesman Byron Cogdell said 13 spectators were taken to Halifax facilities with crash-related injuries. Seven were being treated at Halifax Health Medical Center in Daytona Beach, including one minor and one adult who were critically injured. Six other patients injured in the crash were taken to Halifax's medical center in Port Orange, Cogdell said. All were in stable condition Saturday night, he said.

The remaining patient was taken to Florida Hospital Memorial Medical Center in Daytona Beach, according to spokeswoman Lindsay Rew. Rew did not release the patient's condition.

Chitwood said the Speedway is repairing “the facility and will be ready to go racing tomorrow.”

O'Donnell said NASCAR is “very confident that we'll be ready for tomorrow's event with the 55th running of the Daytona 500.”

“As with any of these incidents, we'll conduct a thorough review and work closely with the tracks as we do with all our events, learn what we can and see what we can apply in the future,” O'Donnell said.

Chitwood said after every event the Speedway reviews the property from an asphalt and fencing perspective.

O'Donnell said NASCAR's initial evaluation is still ongoing. If they can improve on safety measures, he said they would “certainly put that in play as soon as we can.”

Asked if he was concerned with the way the car broke apart, O'Donnell said some of the things that NASCAR has in place for the cars, such as “tethers, that sort of thing, held up, did their job.”

“But certainly when you look at this incident, there are some things we can learn and evaluate,” he said. “We'll take the car, we'll do that. We'll evaluate the fencing and see if there's anything we can learn from where gates are.”

As emergency workers tended to injured fans, a somber Tony Stewart skipped the traditional post-race victory celebration after his win.

“The important thing is what is going on on the frontstretch right now,” said Stewart, the three-time NASCAR champion.

After the crash, dozens of safety workers went into the stands and carried people out on stretchers to a line of at least eight ambulances waiting below and behind the stands, a bystander said. Safety workers appeared to carry patients from at least two sections of the grandstands on the upper deck and from a section of the lower deck.

An eyewitness to the scene outside the grandstands shortly after the crash said people were “in hysterics” and saying there were “multiple injuries.”

Video posted by fans on You Tube, some of which were later blocked, showed a tire sitting across seats, with fans waving for Speedway employees to come to their area.

Another bystander Paul Ciaravino said: “It was a pretty awesome force, obviously, to go through the stands like that. The flames were huge … It hit the ground and flew off into the stands — it was loud. Extremely loud.”

In an interview with ESPN shortly after the crash, NASCAR President Mike Helton said: “I think to see and explain what we know right now is there obviously was some intrusion into the fence, and fortunately with the way the event's equipped up, there was plenty of emergency workers ready to go.”

<p>DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — A violent 13-car crash on the last lap of Saturday's Nationwide Series race sent a tire and other debris flying over the grandstand fence at Daytona International Speedway, injuring at least 28 fans, some critically.</p><p>Speedway President Joie Chitwood III said 14 people were taken to area hospitals and 14 were treated at the Speedway's infield care center. Two people, an adult and a minor, were critically injured but listed in stable condition Saturday night.</p><p>“First and foremost our thoughts and prayers are with our race fans,” Chitwood said.</p><p>All drivers involved in the crash were evaluated and released from the care center, as well, said Steve O'Donnell, NASCAR's senior vice president for racing operations.</p><p>Halifax Health Medical Center spokesman Byron Cogdell said 13 spectators were taken to Halifax facilities with crash-related injuries. Seven were being treated at Halifax Health Medical Center in Daytona Beach, including one minor and one adult who were critically injured. Six other patients injured in the crash were taken to Halifax's medical center in Port Orange, Cogdell said. All were in stable condition Saturday night, he said.</p><p>The remaining patient was taken to Florida Hospital Memorial Medical Center in Daytona Beach, according to spokeswoman Lindsay Rew. Rew did not release the patient's condition.</p><p>Chitwood said the Speedway is repairing “the facility and will be ready to go racing tomorrow.”</p><p>O'Donnell said NASCAR is “very confident that we'll be ready for tomorrow's event with the 55th running of the Daytona 500.” </p><p>“As with any of these incidents, we'll conduct a thorough review and work closely with the tracks as we do with all our events, learn what we can and see what we can apply in the future,” O'Donnell said. </p><p>Chitwood said after every event the Speedway reviews the property from an asphalt and fencing perspective.</p><p>O'Donnell said NASCAR's initial evaluation is still ongoing. If they can improve on safety measures, he said they would “certainly put that in play as soon as we can.”</p><p>Asked if he was concerned with the way the car broke apart, O'Donnell said some of the things that NASCAR has in place for the cars, such as “tethers, that sort of thing, held up, did their job.”</p><p>“But certainly when you look at this incident, there are some things we can learn and evaluate,” he said. “We'll take the car, we'll do that. We'll evaluate the fencing and see if there's anything we can learn from where gates are.”</p><p>As emergency workers tended to injured fans, a somber Tony Stewart skipped the traditional post-race victory celebration after his win. </p><p>“The important thing is what is going on on the frontstretch right now,” said Stewart, the three-time NASCAR champion.</p><p>After the crash, dozens of safety workers went into the stands and carried people out on stretchers to a line of at least eight ambulances waiting below and behind the stands, a bystander said. Safety workers appeared to carry patients from at least two sections of the grandstands on the upper deck and from a section of the lower deck.</p><p>An eyewitness to the scene outside the grandstands shortly after the crash said people were “in hysterics” and saying there were “multiple injuries.”</p><p>Video posted by fans on You Tube, some of which were later blocked, showed a tire sitting across seats, with fans waving for Speedway employees to come to their area.</p><p>Bystander, Scott Granko, said: “As soon as it hit, I said, 'Oh my God,' and it disintegrated.”</p><p>Another bystander Paul Ciaravino said: “It was a pretty awesome force, obviously, to go through the stands like that. The flames were huge … It hit the ground and flew off into the stands — it was loud. Extremely loud.”</p><p>In an interview with ESPN shortly after the crash, NASCAR President Mike Helton said: “I think to see and explain what we know right now is there obviously was some intrusion into the fence, and fortunately with the way the event's equipped up, there was plenty of emergency workers ready to go.”</p>